Turnovers and Bench Scoring Shape Grading Every Pelicans Player After Loss to Clippers

Strong scoring, team defeat

Murphy led New Orleans with 26 points, shooting 9 of 17 and making four three-pointers. He added seven rebounds and three assists, but his defensive impact was limited.

Williamson made all nine of his shots and added seven free throws for 25 points. He took only nine shots in 31 minutes, had four rebounds, and has not attempted a three-pointer since the home loss to Denver.

Fears also scored 25, going 10 of 14 from the field and making three threes. He contributed six rebounds, five assists, and two steals, with two turnovers, but his playmaking and defense drew concern.

Bench struggles against Clippers

Matkovic recorded three points and three rebounds in 19 minutes, while committing five fouls. His only basket was a three-pointer, and his limited rebounding and foul trouble hurt his usefulness against the Clippers’ interior attack.

Mathurin scored six points on 2-of-5 shooting in nine minutes. Watford had five points and three rebounds in 17 minutes, finishing minus-16 after struggling to make an impact.

The Clippers’ reserves held a 74-38 scoring advantage over New Orleans’ bench. Watford’s versatility did not stand out as Los Angeles’ second unit controlled stretches of the game.

Other players fall short

Bey scored 13 points but made only one of six three-point attempts, needing 12 field-goal tries overall. His trips to the free-throw line helped, but missed shots and limited defensive impact reduced his effectiveness.

Jones had four points on 2-of-6 shooting, no rebounds, and a team-worst minus-23 in 20 minutes. He did not produce the defensive disruptions that typically make him valuable.

Queen finished with eight points, five rebounds, and three assists, but committed four turnovers in 21 minutes. His mistakes added to New Orleans’ possession problems, and he struggled to provide steady interior defense.

Murray and team concerns

The Pelicans gave the ball away 17 times, attempted nine fewer three-pointers than the Clippers, and lost the points-in-the-paint battle. Individual scoring totals could not make up for those team-wide shortcomings.

New Orleans had won four straight before losing its last two games. The defeat left the Pelicans with a 4-6 record after 10 games.